Baseball Fever: Keeping Things Fun For The Whole Family

Photo credit: Shutterstock.com

Photo credit: Shutterstock.com

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Take us out to the ballgame! Late summer is a great time to gather your family and head out to see a Chicago baseball game. Whether you’re a White Sox or Cubs fan, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy peanuts and Cracker Jacks in the bleachers and watch your team play.

But don’t let scammers rain on your game! Thieves know fans want to find great seats for super prices, so they’re out to trick people into thinking they can deliver exactly that. Luckily, Chicago-area Better Business Bureau is here to help you make your next baseball outing a home run. “We don’t want fans’ excitement to be spoiled by losing money with fake tickets or poor merchandise,” says Chicago BBB CEO Steve Bernas.

To stay safe throughout this year’s baseball season, from opening pitch to the final series, check out our tips to help you find game tickets and sidestep scams.

Know your source. Your best bet for buying tickets is to purchase from the venue whenever possible. Shopping for tickets from trustworthy ticket sellers, like BBB Accredited CheapTickets.com, which offers not just plane tickets but tickets for events and activities, too, is another surefire way to avoid getting scammed.

Understand purchase, pickup/delivery and return policies. A good seller will clearly explain how to purchase and collect your tickets, as well as all return policies. Also, the seller should display a seating chart showing you exactly where your seats will be before you buy.

Prices sound too good to be true? (They probably are.) Advertisements offering tickets at cut-rate prices or online posts describing great seats for sale due to last-minute schedule changes are definite red flags to watch out for when looking for baseball tickets. Stay scam-free by shopping from a trusted BBB Accredited Business instead.

Double-check your purchase. There are two easy ways to confirm that your baseball tickets are legitimate. The first is to take your tickets to the Will Call window at the stadium. Customer service can quickly verify that your ticket is valid and also help you plot the fastest course to your seats, so you’re ready when game day arrives.

Additionally, you can look for the official hologram and license from the sports league on the tickets themselves. These are very difficult to fake and can be an easy way to verify that your tickets are not a scammer’s forgery.

Protect your purchase.Purchasing tickets online? Look for a lock symbol in your browser near the seller’s web address. This symbol, in addition to “https” in the URL, indicate you’re in a secure purchasing environment. Also, buy your tickets with a credit card. This gives you an extra layer of protection over debit cards, wire transfers and cash purchases. With a credit card payment, if you get ripped off, you can dispute the transaction and ultimately have a better chance of getting your money back.

Family-friendly tip: Sundays are family days at Wrigley Field. On every game day that falls on a Sunday, the first 1,000 attendees age 13 and younger get a wristband that allows them to run the bases after the game. And on special Sundays, the first 5,000 kids 13 or younger receive special Cubs swag (like a batting practice pullover).